Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-04-20


dull aspect of a nickel? He slowly
counted out 81. 95, and handed the sum
TO her with a muttered apology, then
beat hasty retreat TO the interior of
the car, stopping 10 collect the fares of
a couple of passengers who had just
stepped aboard. One of these was
Jones, a vulgar fellow of recently accu-
mulated wealth, who had put up pre-
tentious Eastlake mansion ON Leayen-
worth street.
Knocking down fares! Second time
I've caught him to-day" said Jones to
his friend, nodding toward him, james
Austin who could have bought out the
upStart twice over had he cared. An
angry denial was on his lips. Then a
deep crimson fuSl overspread his face.
To be sure he had been dropping fares
in his pocket without registering them
on his trip Sup. Confound that bell
punchl Why was the blamed thing ever
invented?
Austin forgot that he had been the
foremost one to urge its adoption on the
cable road.
He was losing sight of his daughter.
They had reached the end of the road
/ ".
Jack Starr had not put in his appear
ance, nor did Miss Itetty appear 10 be
on the lookout for anyone, sitting there
quietly in her seat, drinking in the fresh
air with look Of perfect content on
her innocent face.
The trip downtown was made with
out any great misadventure, except
that the vigilant gripman rescued an
old man from being mangleI under the
wheels, as the car was started III re-
sponSe to the conductors premature
signal. Miss Hetty sat calmly in her
place and did not offer to alight till they
were on their fourth outward trip, and
the short January day was drawing to 4
close.
She descended from her seat with one
little backward lCok, full of signiii-
cance, 1T the gripman. The conductors
brain whirled as he realized that he had
ut last discovered clue. Twice before,
when the car was nearly vacant, he had
observed the two in brief colloquy.
| Could il be that the lovers, cut off from
any other means of communication,
exchanged messages through the medi-
um OF this dummy engineer?
| lie was determined TO sift the matter
to the bottom, and hastily canvasSed in
his mind the mcst adrUt method of pro-
celure, decidingl that a tone OF jOcular
comradeship, would be best adapted to
extract the desired confidence. They
! had reached the end of the route, the
remaining passengers had allleft the car,
and the two men, by their united efforts,
We're revolving the dummy TO place II in
readiness for returning.
''Nice little girl, ell, that one in the
wine-colored dress and sealskin cap?"
lie bent upon the gripnan smile that
was designed to invite his confidence.
The latter growled short reply be-
tween his teeth. The car was in position
to hear, and Austin seemed determined
TO follow up his advantage.
THESE San Francisco girls are
mighty sly. Suppose that little creature
is like the rest, fond of the men, carry
ing on all manner of flirtations, meeting
them in out-of-the-way places.
Mr.. Austin never knew exactly how
he REACHED the pavement. He realized
that lie was not only at the mercy of 4
thoroughly angry man, but in the hands
of an expert boxer. He was kicked,
cuffed, beaten, mauled from one side OF
the room to the other, his long ulster
torn half off his back. In the midst of
this pan.ul and confusing experience
one fact was clear to him, and that was
that the attack was perfectly justifiable,
and that he would have visited the
same punishment upon any scoundrel
who dared 10 speak of his daughter in
the terms that had just past his lips.
As the conductors false beard was
twisted awry, disclosing one side of his
face, the young man suddenly ceased
hostilities. The two glared at each
other in breathless 2-lazement.
'sMr. Austinl Good heavensP'
That gentleman gazed incredulously
upon his antagonist, making mental
inventory OF the coarse garments of the
painting young athlete, the grimy hands
he had been wont to see encased in the
finest kids, the spirited face, flushed
with victorious combat.
Jack Starr, by Jove.''
81 beg your pardon, sir. L assure
YOU never had the faintest suspicion
it was you."
The young man stared ut his victim
in tH humblest contrition and despair.
There was not spot on Mr.. Austin'S
body that did not ache. His left wrist
was badly sprained and he was con-
scious that he should carry black eye
for a month. Moreover, his dignity had
been sorely compromised; but he could
not muster semblance OF resentment
against his adversary.
The man who was ready to resent
strangers aspersions of his daughters
character with such spirit and such
scientific skill (alack! that bruise on his
left shoulder) was the man for him.
\ But it was queer way to find out the
| fellows mettle.
SITS all right, jack" he meelily con-
fessed. 81 deserved it,"
The two combatantS inwardly thank
ed heaven that the gathering dusk pre-
vented SPECTATORS from realizing the
true nature OF the struggle, and aided
them TO conceal their respective identi-
ties. The gripman picked up the con-
ductor's punch from where 1t had fallen
in the dust, and deferentially presented
il 20 him as they returned to their
deserted posts.
"Don't tell Pinchley!" was the con-
ductor's imploring appeal, passing
through the door ascending a steep
grade.
"WhatS Pinchley knew, and deliber-
erately pitted usagainst each otherl" The
gripman bent double over the lever In
Daroxysm of mirth. ''Hulloa! Ring for
a stop. There's lady waiting on the
corner"
'How did you come to take up this
sort of thing Jacki"
ITO prove the fallacy of your asser-
tions. And it isn't a bad thing, after
all. One gets musty pegging away at
the law all the time"
"Eha Studying for the bar, lackf
Upon my soul! Say, jack, you know
our dinner hour is 6:3O. II you could
contrive to come around-hang it, boy!
| You know what mean"
| AnJ IooG aSSantpd